Monthly Archives: January 2011
Lineal descendant lawsuit nearing a final ruling.
By Troy Krause, Editor
Redwood Gazette
Posted Jan 27, 2011
A lawsuit filed on behalf of thousands of lineal descendants of an 1886 U.S. census is nearing its end.
While rumors have called the suit dead, the reality is the case is alive and well. Redwood Falls native Erick Kaardal represents approximately 7,000 of the 22,000 claimants in the case of Wolfchild vs. 
the United States.
The basic claim of the suit is the United States in the 1880s placed land in a trust for those Mdewakanton Dakota who were loyal to the nation and were allowed to remain in Minnesota at the end of the Dakota Conflict.
That land was placed in a permanent trust at that time for those on the census list as well as for their descendants.
Over time, those lands, which include reservations at Lower Sioux, Prairie Island and Shakopee, have been taken out of the control of the lineal descendants by others who were allowed to return as part of the federal Indian Reorganization Act.
The suit claims the descendants have a right to that land based on the promise of the United States.
At a hearing held this past week in Washington, D.C. those involved in the case talked about the amount of money that could be involved in this claim, as casinos now exist on all three reservations, as well as who would and would not be considered a legitimate claimant.
One of those who can trace his ancestry to a name on the census in Al Eller, who said his grandfather was Henry St. Clair.
Eller, who said since the suit was first filed, several claims have been made that are untrue, including a rumor a couple of years ago of what was called a white-out of casino employees.
The rumor was in regards to what is known as TERO, which gives preference to American Indians when job openings occur, so long as the individuals have the qualifications.
“These are just scare tactics,” said Eller, adding from his perspective when it comes to employees the best person for the job should have it.
A ruling has been handed down recently that allows for the allocation of a trust fund of $1 million given to those loyal Mdewakan-ton who ceded land to the U.S. in exchange for financial compensation. After the initial payments were ended due to the conflict, a new treaty was signed in 1868 that resumed the payments for that land turned over to the government.
A U.S. federal court judge sided with the tribe, and the hearing held this past week was directed by presiding Judge Charles Lettow to create a payment plan.
A series of scheduled dates held from February through May are intended to help create that plan before final judgment is handed down by the court.
“The Wolfchild case goes on,” said Kaardal, adding, however, the final resolution date of the case still remains unknown.
Copyright 2011 Redwood Falls Gazette. Some rights reserved
THIS STORY CAME FROM WWW.NEWSFORNATIVES.COM AND HAS BEEN COPIED TO WWW.MENDOTADAKOTA.COM
Eugene Red Day has passed into the spirit world on Jan 23, 2011.
Carol asked me to add this to our site. If you have any question please call Carol or Sally.
Service at the Indian Center Tuesday Jan 25, 2011. Eugene will be there at 4:00pm. Service at 6:00pm, viewing until Wednesday morning I don’t have the time.
Gas, or gas cards are needed. Please call Carol at 612-390-5249 if you can help. Please bring a dish to pass.
I don’t have all the details, but they needed to get the word out. Sharon
Voting Membership Meeting.
Tuesday January 25, 2011 at 7:00pm. We have lots to talk about.
Please check out our website, I have put some very interesting articles on the website.
www.mendotadakota.com
Your Tribal Council.
Sharon
History of World Peace and Prayer Day.
“All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer”
The birth of the Sacred White Buffalo, “Miracle”, in Wisconsin in 1994 signaled a time of earth changes and the coming of the mending of the Hoop of All Nations. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, was directed to begin a spiritual journey of a four year commitment to organize World Peace and Prayer Day in the four directions on the summer solstice, June 21st.
In 1996 Chief Looking Horse journeyed from Wahpeton Dakota Reservation, Saskatchewan on the “Unity Ride”, where the Bigfoot Riders rode horses to Devils Tower, properly named “Grey Horn Butte (He Hota Paha)” ,Wyoming, site of the first World Peace and Prayer Day gathering in the West.
In 1997 World Peace and Prayer Day journeyed to the North at the Joseph Big Head Reserve Cree Nation. In 1998 they journeyed to the East to the Pipestone Monument in Pipestone, Minnesota. The fourth World Peace and Prayer Day took place in the South in Costa Rica to fulfill the prophecy of honoring the four directions.
After the completion to the four directions, the ceremony returned to the center “Heart of Everything that is, Paha Sapa” the Sacred Black Hills in South Dakota for a wopila (thank you). As a result of this ceremony, it was determined that World Peace and Prayer Day needed to continue around the world to four continents of the four colors of relatives. The journey began in Ireland in 2001, Durban, South Africa in 2002, Australia in 2003 and Japan in 2004.
The ceremony then returned to Paha Sapa, the Sacred Black Hills, after traveling to the four continents, for another wopila (thank you) in 2005. The Wolakota Youth Council embarked on a large scale project called Prayer Run for World Peace 2005. This project included both First Nation tribes and many non-native youth from all cultures across the nation. Starting in May 2005 groups from the four directions started their run. Los Angeles, CA in the west, Manitoba, Canada in the north, Long Island, New York in the east and the southern group from Mexico and El Paso, TX. The youth concluded their run in the Black Hills to participate in the 10th annual World Peace and Prayer Day. There was also a Prayer Ride for World Peace that started from Cypress Hills Saskatchewan. A Horse Bundle was carried by the riders on a route that brought them across Montana and through many Tribal communities. As many as 15 youth stayed on their horses all the way to the event. It was a beautiful sight to see the horses and runners come in to the beginning of World Peace and Prayer Day. They brought all their prayers in one hoop of unity.
2006 saw another Prayer Run for World Peace that started in Vancouver, British Columbia for 2,261.75 miles to the site of World Peace and Prayer Day in Eklutna, Alaska, hosted by the Inuit. Wolakota Youth Council also sponsored a Youth Prayer Run for World Peace in 2007 that started in El Paso, TX and traveled over 1,600 miles to Mexico City, Mexico to the site of Teotihuacan for the ceremony that was hosted by the Mayan.
The ceremony journeyed to New Zealand in 2008 to Whangarei. The tribal communities of the Whangarei area mainly affiliate to the over-arching tribe known as Ngati Wai who were the hosts. For more information about the event you can go to: wppdaotearoa2008.blogspot.com/
The Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, CA was the site of the 2009 ceremony. The fifteenth year of World Peace and Prayer Day, 2010, was held at the Burgandy Brook Farm in Palmer, MA. It was hosted by Blue Star Equiculture and honored the Horse Nation.
For the past 15 years we have been humbled beyond words by those who have chosen to help make this multi-level event possible. Since 2006 we are promoting a mass awareness of “All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer” to encourage everyone to take time on June 21st and join in the united prayer/meditation to heal our Grandmother Earth. The Summer Solstice is said to be a powerful time to pray for peace and harmony among all Living Beings. It is in this spirit—this desire for a better world that will succeed. Believe in Miracles!
150-year-old letters give voice to Dakota prisoners.
Clifford Canku teaches Dakota language at North Dakota State University in Fargo. He has spent the past 10 years, working with other Dakota elders, translating 50 letters written by Dakota prisoners of war in the 1860s.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/19/dakota-tribe-letters/
